The attorney general's office, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and other agencies are holding a three-day summit on the opioid epidemic to educate Mississippians and train those dealing with the nationwide public health crisis addiction is causing.

"Opioids are devastating Mississippi families and communities, and the public is counting on us to find a way to stop this epidemic from taking over other lives," said Attorney General Jim Hood.

The Mississippi Opioid and Heroin Drug Summit will be July 11-13 at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison. The event is open to the public and admission is free. Health care, law enforcement, education, nonprofit and other professionals dealing with the issue are encouraged to attend.

The summit will include two family forums at 6 p.m. on July 11 and 12.

A featured speaker will be Sam Quinones, author of "Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic."

Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director John Dowdy said Mississippi reported 563 overdose deaths from 2013 to 2016, with 211 last year alone. He said the numbers are likely much higher because of "severe under-reporting by the state's coroners."

MBN says Mississippi is the fifth highest per capita in the nation for painkiller prescriptions, with 1.07 prescriptions per person.

Last week, officials with the Brandon Police Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, MBN and Department of Public Safety announced the arrest of 10 more people in an ongoing investigation into a Brandon doctor and his girlfriend on trafficking charges.

"This is here, this is next door to you," DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux said in the arrest announcement.

Opioid addiction, officials said, is also leading to increased heroin use and trafficking nationwide.

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Marshall Fisher said the epidemic is a public health issue and "we can't arrest our way out of this situation." He said law enforcement needs to work with public health and other agencies to fight the problem.

For more information on the summit call 601-898-2345 or go to drugsummit.com.